– Talent Development Initiatives

The Short Film Conference, in collaboration with Cinéma de Demain’s SFC | Rendez-vous Industry, have put together a list of talent development initiatives for short films from all over the world.

The list contains labs, residencies, platforms, training programmes, markets and forums offering structured support for short film creators. These initiatives are designed to help you develop your projects, expand your network, and deepen your craft.

– Recognised & Respected Short Film Festivals

In an era where film festivals are more accessible than ever it’s become essential for filmmakers to distinguish between legitimate, respected festivals and those that may be exploitative or misleading.

For starters – Short Film Conference member festivals are trusted festivals that work in the accordance to SFC’s Code of Ethics. 

Moreover, here are lists of festivals that qualify for:

• Academy Award
• EFA
• BAFTA

We’ve put this list together to help short filmmakers navigate the crowded festival landscape with confidence. 

– Further Reading & Industry Insights

Looking to dive deeper into the world of short film? Here you’ll find a curated selection of articles, interviews, and discussions – both from SFC and from trusted voices in the industry. These resources offer fresh perspectives, practical advice, and critical reflections on the evolving short film landscape.

• Here you can find recordings of past events organised by the Short Film Conference. Most recently, in the context of the Short Film Market in Clermont-Ferrand, we organise a discussion about supporting emerging talents and content warnings at film festivals. 
• Our member Talking Shorts, has an extensive library of useful talks, keynotes, and other formats to foster discussion – click here.
• Our member Show Me Shorts have several useful tools on the website, such as Festival Strategy Advice, Filmmaker Resources and International Film festival list.  
• Short film toolkit, created by BAFTA, British Council and BFI Network, is designed to help navigate the route into the film industry, and your film’s journey out into the world.

Have a resource, tool, or initiative to share? We’d love to hear from you. Let’s keep building this space together – for a stronger, more connected short film community.